Apparatus for cleaning phonograph-records



E. V. GEORGE.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PHONOGRAPH RECORDS.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 21. 1919.

Patented May 11, 1920A ord cleaning ELEANOR v. snonsn, or NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

OFFICE.-

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING PHONOGRAPH-RECORDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed Januaiyfil, 1919. Serial No. 272,250.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELEANonV. Gnonen, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have H14 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Iho nograph-Records, of which the following is a specification, reference being-had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the same. My invention relates to phonograph recdevices and the method of using the same, and for this purpose in conjunction with my device, I use mechanical operating power, preferably from the phonograph motor.

The object of my invention is to provide means and a method for effectually cleaning records, which overcome the objectionable characteristics of the devices and methods now in use.

In the drawings which accompany this specification Figure 1 is a perspective view of a phonograph showing my device in operative pos1- tion on the turn table thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device looking at the same from the top;

Fig. 3 is a central cross section of my device in position on the turn table of a phonograph;

Fi 4 is a central cross section of my de-- vice utilizing the turn table of the phonograph as a part thereof;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the hub of a turn table, the bore of which was originally tapered from top to bottom to engage a tapered spindle, also shown, and which bore has been modified so as to taper from both ends thereof toward-the middle; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of a brush having its bristles purposely inclined for the objects hereinafter described.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts,

I provide a receptacle which may consist of a vessel 1 specially made for the purpose or the underpart of a phonograph turn table 1 This receptacle is provided with a hub & adapted to fit over and become engaged with a spindle 6 attached to suitable source of power, as for instance, a phonograph motor to give the spindle and its attached receptacle arevoluble movement.

Attached to the receptacle and adapted to be carried therewith, I have provided a brush or series of brushes which may be arranged therein in any suitable manner. I prefer, however, to have the bristles inclined in the direction of the movement ofthe receptacle for reasons hereinafter described. V

l/Vhere the receptacle is distinct from the turntable I prefer to provide the samewith a frictional surface 7, which may be of felt, rubber or other material attached to the underside of the vessel.

In the practice of my invention, the receptacle 1, if a distinct vessel from the turn table of the phonograph, is placed on the turn table over the spindle 6 and becomes engaged therewith, and if said receptacle consists of the turn table, the same is re versed on the spindle 6 with the cleaning element in an upward direction. The bristles 9 of the brushes 2, I prefer to dispose in a slanting forward direction with the travel of the receptacle. 7

The receptacle being thus mounted on the operating spindle of the phonograph, the motor is then started and the receptacle and its attached brushes are revolved in the direction of the turning of the spindle.

The device is now in operating conditlon for the cleanlng of phonograph records. A

record sought to be cleaned is then held st..-

tionary against the revolving brushes, with its face to be cleaned disposed downwardly on said brushes and the refu'se or foreign matter removed from the face of the record by the brushes, falls into the receptacle.

Brushes'which are forwardly inclined with the travel of the receptacle are more effective in dlgging out foreign matter from the record than brushes perpendicular thereto or bent in a rearward direction. It will be readily observed that owing to the face of the record to be cleaned being disposed in a downward direction particles of foreign matter loosened or removed from its grooves will not fall on another part of the record with the possibility of being ridden over by the brushes and consequently firmly embedded in the groove in another part of the record but will fall by gravity into the receptacle and out of all possibility of further contact with the record.

It is quite common for phonograph machines to be equipped with a tapering spindle as shown in Fig. 5 in which case the hub or sleeve 4; is provided with a tapering bore from one end to the other to fit over the tapering shaft. In the use of my device in connection with the underside of a turn table, this bore which is shown by dotted 'linesis modified as shown in full lines in V Fig. 5 so as to taper from both ends down to the middle so that the hub may be fitted over a tapering shaft from either end and become engaged therewith.

I have shown what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention and method of cleaning records thereby but do not wish to be limited to the disclosure shown and described. It is obvious of course that the record and cleaning element need not be held in horizontal position in practice, as any angular position permitting the dirt or foreign matter loosened by the brushes to fall from the record groove a frictional bottom, a cleansing element disso posed therein and carried thereby and means for engaging said bottom with a rotatable element so as to rotate the same.

3. Apparatus for dry-cleaning phonograph records, consisting of a vessel, a cleaning element disposed therein and carried thereby, and means'for engaging said vessel with a rotating element adapted to rotate said vessel. ELEANOR V. GEORGE. 

